This divine whisper which enters in by the ear of the soul is not only substantial knowledge, but a manifestation also of the truths of the Divinity, and a revelation of the secret mysteries thereof. For in general, in the Holy Scriptures, every communication of God said to enter in by the ear is a manifestation of pure truths to the understanding, or a revelation of the secrets of God. St. John of the Cross, "The Spiritual Canticle of the Soul"

Friday, December 16, 2005

It's Christmastime again -- that time of year when many people complain about the overcommercialization of Christmas or the "war on Christmas" by those trying to take Christ out of Christmas.

I am distressed over the lack of Christ in Christmas, but not in the same way that the "war on Christmas" people are. I don't want to get into an argument about saying "Merry Christmas" or what you should call your light-decorated office tree. You used to hear people talk about the "Christmas spirit" -- a feeling of love and joy, a spirit of giving - not of giving and getting presents, but of wanting to do things for other people. It might lead you to take a parking spot way out so that someone else might have one closer. It might lead you to anonymously pay for the food of the person behind you in the drive-through. It might lead you to smile and wave to strangers just because you are full of an inexplicable joy. I think that being in the "Christmas spirit" is really being in the spirit of Christ.

It feels like that spirit is being drowned out by the ring of cash registers, honking horns, and the shouts of people angry over the phrase "Happy Holidays".